UP Centennial Gawad Likhaan launched

Likhaan: the UP Institute of Creative Writing is formally launching the UP Centennial Gawad Likhaan, a literary contest, as part of the celebrations of the UP Centennial in 2008, with the approval of the UP Centennial Commission.

Six awards—each one worth P200,000—will be offered for original, book-length works in the following categories: a novel or short story collection in English in English; a novel or short story collection in Filipino; a poetry collection in English; a poetry collection in Filipino; a full-length work or collection of creative nonfiction in English; and a full-length work or collection of sanaysay in Filipino.

The competition is open to all Filipino citizens (including Filipinos holding dual citizenship), except for the members of the UP-ICW and its staff. There will be only one prize per category. Authors may submit only one (1) entry per category. Works which have already been awarded a prize in other contests are not eligible. Subject or theme is open. The complete rules are available at the UP-ICW office in UP Diliman. They will also be uploaded on the UP-ICW website and on www.panitikan.com.ph, the literary portal hosted by the UP-ICW.

The UP Centennial Gawad Likhaan is being held in commemoration of the important role that the University of the Philippines has played in the shaping and nurturing of the country’s literature. To date UP has produced six National Artists for Literature and numerous other writers who have achieved recognition both nationally and internationally. In keeping with its mandate of taking the lead in the development of a national literature, the UP-ICW serves, not just the faculty and students of the UP, but the larger community of writers and the country itself. Almost all writers, established and emerging, have been fellows of the annual national writers’ workshops conducted by the UP-ICW or students in its creative writing and malikhaing pagsulat programs.

All entries for the contest should be submitted to the Board of Judges, Likhaan: the UP Institute of Creative Writing, Faculty Center, UP Diliman. Deadline for submission is March 31, 2008 at 5 pm. The names of the winners and the members of the Board of Judges will be announced in June 2008.